Ejecting cartridge carrier



Dec, 26, 1961 A. G. KIRETA EJRCTING CARTRIDGE CARRIER Filed Feb, 25. 1959 3,014,617 EJ'ECTING CARTRIDGE CARRIER Andrew George Kireta, Harrisburg, Pa. (1610 H Ave., Lawton, Okla.)

Filed Feb. 2s, 1959, ser. No. 795,411 11 Claims. (ci. 221-94) This invention relates to cartridge carriers and more particularly to the portableselectively actuated cartridge dispensing type. v

In the prior art, cartridge carriers are shown in which cartridges are arranged in staggered head-to-base fashion. When cartridges are dispensed from a carrier of this type, every other cartridge is in an improper position for loading into a firearm and as such, is very annoying. This is particularly annoying to hunters who nd they must reload their firearms hurriedly in order to take advantage of particular situations.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges to the user whereby the cartridges will be in theproper position for loading into the iirearm. A

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing cartridge carrier wherein a selected number of cartridges can be dispensed simultaneously.

Stili another object of this invention is to providea dispensing cartridge carrier having a strong operating mechanism with positive, trouble-free operating characteristics.

These and othelrobjects of the` invention will become apparent from the following specication and drawings.

In the drawings: v

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the cartridge carrier with a partial cross section shown;

FIG.Y2 is an end View of the cartridge carrier;

FIG. 3 is a showing of the partial cross section of FIG.

j 1 during the dispensing operation; f FIG. 4 is a cross sectionvtaken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

case and support the cartridge in a horizontal position at substantially right angles thereto.

Parallel channels are provided to hold -a plurality of cartridges in separate columns Thumb screws are provided at the base of` the channels to selec-tively block the c channels tocontrol the number of cartridges ejected therefrom. p

The dispensing mechanism comprises a spring biased double-rack and pinion arrangement wherein one rack supportsthe lowermost cartridge in the channels when theyare notbeing dispensed. `When dispensing a cartridge, however, the supporting rack movesk out-` from under the Vlowest cartridge to dispense same by gravity while another rack acts to retain the remaining cartridges in the carrier.

VReferring in detail to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. l and 2, the cartridge carrier is' shown to comprise an outer casing having'an open top covered with a transparent cover 12. A cartridge dispensing opening 14 is provided in the bottom of the casing 10.

sa@ Patent Vsigned to slidably engage the rim at the base of a cartridge A plurality of cartridges v16 are arranged single le in a plurality of vertical columns with the rimmed base portion. 17 of the cases yagainstone end'wall 18 of .the casing 19. Mounted on the end wall 18 are a'plurality of parallel vertically disposed cartridge retainin'g1channels '20." The channels have agenerallyV squared U-shaped cross-section with inturnedV flanges dimensioned to slidably receive the rimmed bases 17 'of the cartridges 16. As a result, the cartridges 16 are held substantially :perpendicular to the end wall 18 by the retaining channels 20.

In the embodiment shown, a pair of selectively adjustable thum-b screws 22 are threaded through the end wall "18 of the casing 10 and pass beneath the two outer channels 20 immediately adjacent the lower `ends thereof. These screws may be selectively adjusted to prevent either one or both of the outer columns of cartridges from being dispensed by effectively blocking' the exit end of the `outer channel 20. The central channel and its correor pocket by means of spring clips 24 as shown in FlG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. l, '2, 3 and 4, the cartridge dispensing mechanism is shown to comprise an actuating handle 26which projects through a slot 28 in one side wall of the outer casing lil. The actuating handle v26 forms an integral part of an upper rack 30 having gear teeth 32 on the lower surface thereof. The gear teeth 32 are adapted to intermesh with the yteeth of a pinion or idler gear 34. The gear 34 in turn, is intermeshed with the gear teeth 36 on the upper surface of a lower rack 38.

As` shown in FIG. 4, the idler gear 34 is mounted for rotation abou-t an axis perpendicular to the long dimension of the outer casing 16. A central shaft 40 extends through the gear 34 and is held in suitable bearing slots `in the side walls of the outer casing 10. y

The upper and lower racks 30 land 38 are slidably supported in parallel bearing slots 42 and 44, respectively, in the side walls o-f the casing 10 whereby both racks are mounted to slide su-bstantiallyfthe entire lengthof the casing 10'. t v

Located at the end of the upper rack'farthest from the vchannels 20 onV the end wall of the casing 10, and extending perpendicular to the upper surface thereof, is a spring follower 46. The follower has a narrow shank 48 andan outer casing 10 is enclosed in a cylindrical tube 54 which ismounted between a central partitioned in the casing 10 and the other end wall 58 of the casing 10. lThe tube 54 is at least as long as and parallel to the upper rack 30 and contains a slotli. (FIG. 4) which runs the entire length thereof. The slot 60 is positioned to receive the thin shank portion 48 of the spring follower 46. r The enlarged endy portion 50 of the spring follower is enclosed in the cylindrical tube 54 between the end wall 58 ofthecasing 10 and the corresponding end of the compression spring The lower rack 3S is shown in detail in FIGS. 5` and 6 and comprises a at generallyrectangular plate having a plurality of rows of gear teeth-36 on the upper .facethereof. vThe remainder of the upper surface comprises smooth uninterruptedV parallel surface portions 62 which "are Ydimensioned sueleL that a cartridge mayrest thereon without coming into Contact with the gear teeth 36 andy thereby becomescarred or otherwisedefaced. 1 As shown in'the side lelevation in FIG. 6,V the smooth surfaces 62aincrease in v on with the large dimension or base on the left, will bel held in a substantially horizontal position.

The upper rack 30 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 as having a smooth upper surface 64 `which is increased in cross sectional thickness from left to right in a manner similar to the surfaces 62 of the lower rack 38. The left hand edge 66 of the upper rack 30 is formed with a rounded edge so as to avoid scarring or defacing the soft noses of hunting bullets or the like. Y

The cartridge dispensing operation is as follows:

Initially, the dispensing mechanism is in the position shown in FIG. l with the upper rack 30 on the right and out of contact with the cartridges 16. The lower rack 38 is on the left and acts as a supporting shelf for the columns of cartridges 16, the lowermost cartridge in each column resting on the smooth parallel surfaces 62 on the upper surface of the lower rack 38.

The cartridges 16 are slidably retained in the vertical channels 20 by means of their rimmed bases 17 such that the removal of the lower rack 38 from beneath the cartridges 16 will allow them to slide down the channels 20 by force of gravity and drop through the dispensing opening 14 in the outer casing 10. As described above, the two outermost channels 20 may be selectively blocked by thumb screws 22 such that one, two or three cartridges may fall from the bottom of the channels 20 at the same time.

After the thumb screws 22 have been properly adjusted for the desired number of cartridges, the actuating lever 26 on the upper rack 30 is pulled from right to left until it reaches the position shown in FiG. 3. As a result, the gear teeth 32 on the lower surface of the upper rack 30 engage the pinion or idler gear 34 and drive the gear counterclockwise as shown. The idler gear 34 is also engaged with the parallel tracks of gear teeth 36 on the upper surface of the lower rack 38 and as a result of the counterclockwise rotation of the idler gear 34, the lower rack 38 is moved from left to right to the final position shown in FIG. 3. The lower rack 38, therefore, is moved out from under the lowermost cartridges 16 in the vertical columns, allowing them to drop out of the dispensing opening 14 in the outer casing 10.

At the same time that the lower rack 38 is moving out from under the lowermost cartridges, the upper rack 30 is moving between the lowermost and next highest layer of cartridges. In this way, only the lower cartridges are dispensed as the upper rack 30 retains the remainder of the cartridges on its upper surface 64.

For a right-handed person, the dispensing cartridge carrier is attached to a belt or pocket on the right side of the wearer by means of the spring clips 24 shown in FIG. 2.

vThe thumb of the right hand is hooked around the actuating lever 26 and the fingers are curled down and under the bottom of the casing so that they will receive and retain dispensed cartridges. The actuating lever 26 is moved from front to back with reference to kthe body of the wearer and when the position shown in FIG. 3 is reached, the cartridges 16 will d rop through the dispensing opening 14 and into the hand of the wearer, whereby they will be properly oriented for immediate loading into a firearm.

When the lever 26 is moved to dispensing position, the spring follower 46 on the upper rack 30 compresses the compression spring 52. Thus, when the actuating lever 26 is released, the spring 52 drives the spring follower 46, upper rack 30, idler gear 34 and lower rack 38 back-to their normal positions shown in FIG. 1.

The return of the upper and lower racks allows the columns of cartridges 16 to drop from the level of the upper rack 30 down onto the supporting surfaces 62 on lower 'rack 38. The cartridge carrier is now in position for another dispensing operation.

As the total number of cartridgs in the carrier is decreased, the supply may be replenished by removing the transparent plastic top and inserting the rimmed bases 17 of fresh cartridges 16 into the top of the vertical channels 20 whereby they will slide down to rest on top of thev cartridges already contained in the carrier.

In order to make the cartridge carrier adaptable to various calibers, the channels 20 may be removably mounted on the end wall 18 of the casing 10 so that channels dimensioned for various cartridgesizes may be inserted.

As can be seen from the above description and drawings, my invention satisfies a long felt need in the art for a cartridge carrier and dispenser which is simple and rugged in construction with a reliable and positive mode of operation. The device is readily attached to the clothing of the wearer and dispenses a selected number of cartridges in correct position for rapid reloading of a firearm.

It is to be understood that the embodiment shown is for the purpose of example only and is not to be taken as the sole form of this invention in that other embodiments and modifications thereof will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cartridge carrier, for dispensing cartridges, dispensing means comprising in combination, upper and lower elongated parallel cartridge supporting means, an elongated resilient biasing means adapted to be compressed along an axis parallel to said cartridge supporting means, means mounted on one of said cartridge supporting means for engaging said elongated biasing means to compress said biasing means in response to a particular direction of motion of one of said cartridge SUPpOrting means and motion transmitting means interconnected between said upper and lower elongated cartridge supporting means whereby the motion of one of said supporting means in one direction produces motion of the other of said supporting means in the other direction, said biasing means being compressed in one direction between a irst and second position of said supporting means and acting to return said supporting means from said second position to said first position in the opposite direction of motion.

2. The device as described in claim l wherein said motion transmitting means comprises an idler gear.

3. In a cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges, in combination, holding means for retaining a plurality of vertical columns of horizontally disposed cartridges and providing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges in said holding means, selective stop means at the lower end of each of said vertical columns for preventing selected columns from dispensing the cartridges therein, upper and lower support means separate from said selective stop means for alternately supporting said cartridges in each vertical column, said upper support means being spaced from said lower support means such that a cartridge supported by said lower support means will not come in contact with the lower surface of said upper support means, said cartridge support means being movable from first and second extreme positions whereby movement to said first position places said lower support means beneath the bottom-most cartridges in said vertical columns to prevent dispensing of same While said upper support means is disposed parallel to but completely offset from said lower support means outside of the volume occupied by said Vertical columns and movement to said second position places said upper support means beneath the cartridges vertically adjacent said bottom-most carttridges to prevent same from dispensing and removes said lower support means from beneath said bottom-most cartridges to thereby allow said bottom-most cartridges to be dispensed.

4. In a dispensing cartridge carrier, an outer casing, a dispensing opening in the bottom of said casing whereby dispensed cartridges may be dropped therethrough, a first linearly movable and elongated cartridge supporting means mounted interior of said casing for selectively opening and closing said dispensing opening, a second linearly movable `and elongated cartridge 'supporting means mounted parallel to and vertically displaced from said rst supporting-means such that motion of said supporting means to open said dispensing opening produces motion in said second supporting means in the opposite direction to directly close said opening, holding means for retaining a vertical column of horizontally disposed cartridges and providing vertical sliding movement of cartridges carried therein, the lowermost cartridge carried by said holding means -being supported directly on said first supporting means when the dispensing opening is closed thereby and the next highest cartridge therein being supported by said second supporting means when said iirst supporting means is moved to open said dispensing opening and thereby dispense said lowermost cartridge and selective stop means separate from said first and second movable support means and positioned at the lower end of each vertical column holding means for preventing selected columns from dispensing the cartridges therefrom.

5. In a cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges in combinations, a holding means for retaining a plurality of vertical columns of horizontally disposed cartridges and providing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges therein, said holding means for said cartridges comprising a vertical channel member having inturned llanges for slidably gripping the rimmed bases of the cases of said cartridges for maintaining said cartridges substantially perpendicular to said channel and allowing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges in said channel, and movable support means for said cartridges located beneath the lowermost cartridge in said vertical lcolumn whereby removal of said support means from beneath said cartridges will allow them to slide down said channel by the action of gravity and be dispensed therefrom.

6. In a cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges in combination, holding means for retaining said cartridges in a vertical column and horizontally disposed comprising a vertical channel member having inturned flanges for slidably gripping the rimmed basesof the cases of said cartridges for maintaining said cartridges substantially perpendicular to said channel and allowing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges in said channel, selectively actuated locking means in said channel adjacent the lowermost end thereof for selectively preventing the cartridges from sliding down said channel, and movable support means for said cartridges located beneath the lowermost cartridge in said vertical column whereby removal of said support means from beneath said cartridges will allow them to slide down said channel by the action of gravity and be dispensed therefrom.

7. A cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges cornprising in combination holding means for retaining a vertical column of horizontally disposed cartridges and providing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges in said holding means, upper and lower linear movable support means for alternately and directly supporting said cartridges and a rotary driving connection between said upper and lower support means and driven by said upper support means whereby motion of said upper support means in one direction actuates said driving interconnection to move said lower support means in the opposite direction, each of said support means comprising a generally rectangular plate movable in the general direction in which said cartridges extend, said plate being increased 'in thickness from the end of said plate supporting the base of one of said cartridges to the other end of said plate whereby a cartridge having a tapered case will rest theret Vof running longitudinally of said plate whereby' a plul rality of cartridges may be supported on'said plate on said p biasing means adapted to be compressed along an axis parallel to said cartridge supporting means, means mounted on one of said cartridge supporting means for engaging said biasing means to compress said biasing means in response to a particular direction of motion of one of said cartridge supporting means and motion transmitting means interconnected between said upper and lower elongated cartridge supporting means Whereby the motion of one of said supporting meansin one direction produces motion of the other of said supporting means in the other direction, said biasing means being compressed in one direction between a rst and second position of said supporting means and acting to return said supporting means from said second position to said first position in the opposite direction of motion, said upper cartridge supporting means comprising a rack having transverse gear teeth on its lower surface for engaging said motion transmitting means and a smooth upper surface for supporting cartridges and a follower means mounted on one end of said rack substantially perpendicular to the upper surface thereof for engaging said resilient biasing means to compress the same.

l0. The device as described in claim 9 wherein there is a plurality of holding means for retaining vertical columns of horizontally disposed cartridges and wherein said lower cartridge supporting means comprises a generally rectangular plate having alternate parallel rows of gear teeth and smooth surfaces, respectively, on the upper surface thereof running longitudinally of said plate whereby a plurality of cartridges may be supported on said plate on said smooth surfaces intermediate said parallel 4rows of gear teeth.

11. In a cartridge carrier for dispensing cartridges, in combination, holding means for retaining a plurality of vertical columns of horizontally disposed cartridges and providing vertical sliding movement of said cartridges in said holding means, selective stop means at the lower end of each of said vertical columns for preventing selected columns from dispensing the cartridge therein, upper and lower support means separate from said selective stop means for alternately supporting said cartridges in'each vertical row, said upper support means being spaced from said lower support means such that a cartridge supported by said lower support means will not come in contact with the lower surface of said upper support means, said cartridge support means being movable from first and second extreme support positions whereby movement to said iirst position places said lower support means beneath the bottom-most cartridges in said vertical columns to prevent dispensing of some while said upper support means is disposed parallel to but completely offset from said lower support means outside of the yspace occupied by said vertical columns, and movement to said second position places said upper support means beneath the cartridges verticallyadjacent said bottom-most cartridges to prevent same from dispensing and removes said lower support means from beneath said bottom-most cartridges whereby to allow said bottommost cartridges to be dispensed, said holding means for said cartridges comprising parallel vertical channels having inturned flanges for slidably gripping the rimmed bases of the cases of said cartridges and suppo-rting said cartridges substantially perpendicular to said channels and parallel to said upper and lower support means whereby removal of said support means from beneath said cartridges will allow them to slide down said channels by the action of gravity and be dispensed therefrom.

(References on following page) f- References Cited in the le of this patent 1,816,341

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 427,093 Lennon May 6, 1890 558,057 Ferguson Apr. 14, 1896 5 984,223 Jones Feb. 14, 1911 8,964

o u Petersen July 28, 1931 Petrie May 15, 1951 Telley Jan. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 19, 1904 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No@ 3,014,617 December 26, 1961 Andrew George Kreta It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 56Y for "slome" read w same mf.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID Le LADD ESTGN Ga JOHNSON Commissiner of Patents Attesting Officer 

